Raynham selectmen set date for tax rate hearing

The Raynham Board of Assessors is currently preparing its recommendations on for the next fiscal year’s residential and commercial tax rates.

Marc Larocque

The Raynham Board of Assessors is currently preparing its recommendations on for the next fiscal year’s residential and commercial tax rates.

The Raynham Board of Selectmen voted on Tuesday night to set Dec. 3 as the date for the hearing, during which the tax rates are expected to be set, after a presentation from the Board of Assessors.

The tax rate hearing will take place at 7 p.m. at the Raynham Town Hall at 558 S. Main St.

When asked about the tax rate recommendations after Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Board of Assessors member Gordon Luciano couldn’t give any hints as to what they would be.

“We’re working on it right now, after finalizing the total debt,” Luciano said.

Last year, the Raynham Board of Selectmen voted against the recommendations of the Board of Assessors, by voting to keep steady with the town’s split tax rate for commercial properties with a differential of 126 percent. Arguing that it would be beneficial for the town in terms of attracting businesses and increasing the tax base, the Assessors recommended last year to lower the burden on businesses through a 122 percent tax split tax rate for commercial properties.

The selectmen rejected the Board of Assessors last year, arguing that Raynham remains attractive to businesses not only because of its competitive commercial property tax rate, but also because of the location of the town in relation to major cities and the convenience of major routes and highways that pass through the communities, while at the same time homeowners and renters were struggling to pay the bills.

Also during Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Chair Joseph Pacheco congratulated Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School teacher David Patrick and his science students for winning a $10,000 InvenTeam grant, awarded to only 15 high schools throughout the country, for inventive science, technology, engineering and math-related projects. Patrick and his students produced a coffee pod recycler that caught the attention of the grant-giving foundation, called the Lemelson-MIT Program.

Bridgewater-Raynham was the only high school from Massachusetts recognized this year through the InvenTeam grants, given by the Lemelson-MIT Program, which was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994.

“It underscores the progress B-R has made throughout the last few years,” said Pacheco, announcing the grant to the community. “After that small period of challenge they’ve rebounded and I think outpaced where they’ve ever been before. Congratulations to the students and staff for what has continued to be accolade after accolade.”

Fellow Selectmen Richard Schiavo echoed Pacheco’s sentiments.

“They’ve made Raynham very proud,” Schiavo said.

During his weekly report, Town Administrator Randall Buckner said announced that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold its final public hearing on the Raynham Park slot casino proposal on Dec. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Raynham Middle School.

Pacheco also said that a quarterly report produced by the Raynham Planning Department is now available at the Board of Selectmen’s office. The report contains information about what Town Planner John Charbonneau has been up to since taking office in August, including issues like the proposed slot casino, the Route 138 Corridor Study and the town’s medical marijuana moratorium extension.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the selectmen also voted to continue Raynham’s relationship with the Lakeville Animal Shelter to deal with animal issues that arise in the town.

“We thank them for their continued support,” Pacheco said.

Contact Marc Larocque at mlarocque@tauntongazette.com

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